Foot-warmer



(No Model.)

J. P. BERCHEM. FOOT WARMER.

. No. 595,519. Patented Deo. 14,1897.

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PATENT Ormes.

JOHN P. BERCHEM, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Let-ters Patent No. 595,519, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed February 6, 18,97. Serial No. 622,370. (No model.) l

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN P. BERCHEM, acitizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Warmers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beingv had to the accompanying d rawin gs, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in foot warmers of the class used for placing a persons feet upon in order to keep them warm while driving in carriages or wagons or when sitting or standing in a cold place indoors or outdoors, like those who run streetcars, pile-drivers, or other hoisting machin'- ery, dce. andthe objects of my invention are, first, to provide a foot-warmer for theabovenamed and similar purposes which shall be very inexpensive and simple in its use; second, to provide a foot-warmer which shall be entirely safe against danger from burning the shoes, rubbers, or other footwear, or Vsetting re to itself vor anything else surrounding it; third, to provide a foot-warmer whichl can be readily touched, taken hold of, and moved without discomfort to the hands. I attain these and other minor objects by the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the 'accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my complete foot-warmer. Fig. 2 is also a top view of the warmer, but with the cover and liftingbail removed. Fig. 3 is a front side elevation of the complete foot-warmer with only the handhold removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged crosshinged at D and secured in the front by the thumb-hooks E.

F is a bail-shaped handle or handhold pivoted at G to the ends of the case A. It may be swung down on the side of the case, as shown in Fig. l, or raised plumb up for carrying the caseby it.

The cover O is made out of wood in the shape shown, having its end bars or strips H and its side strips I provided with the air-passages J, nearby the vwalls of the case.

K are Vwooden strips or bars secured with their ends in and flush4 with the top of the end'strips H of the cover. These strips K are the main support for a persons feet when.

placed upon the cover, and are therefore located some distance above the metallic cover below it, which consists of the iron sheet L, secured with its edges to the under side of the wooden cover, with the asbestic lining M between the metal and the woodwork, so as to protect the latter from being ignited or damaged when vthe iron sheet gets hot. The sheet L is formed at its long Aedges with ledges N, in which slides the lower metallic sheet or 4slide O. The two sheets are provided with draft-holes P and Q, which, as shown in Fig. 1, may register more or less, according as the operating-catch R, secured in the slide O, is moved in the slot Sin the stationary plate L.

T represents charcoal burning in the sheetiron pan U, which is suspended on four hooks V, engaging holes B2 in the upper edge of a secondary sheet-iron pan W, which is supported by having its lugs X engaging the hooks Y, secured in the inner sides of the walls of the main case A.

. For a common or cheap grade of the article the walls of the pans T and W maybe of the perpendicular shape shown in Fig. 5, and the wooden case A may have no other protection from the heat than the air-spaces formed between the two pans and between the outer pan W and the woodwork; but in making a better grade of the article I line the walls and bottom of the wooden case with asbestos Z, and the walls of the lire-pans T and W,I make slanting inward at the bottom, as this form gives the draft a better chance to reach all of the coal placed in the pan U. The walls of the pan W project upward above the walls of the fire-pan U and there lean inward, as at IOO A2 in Fig. Ll, serving as a guard to protect the burning coal from being thrown out into the wooden case by the jumping motion of a wagon or carriage in which the apparatus may be used. Even when the edges A2 are upright, as in Fig. 5, they serve to some extent the same purpose.

I do not wish to limit myself to any exact distance between the various parts ot' the apparatus; but I have found by experimenting that about three-fourths to one inch space between the woodwork and the protectingpan IV and about the same distance between the two pans Uand IV will suffice to protect the woodwork from the fire and keep it comfortably cold, or even less space will do when the asbestic lining Z is used.

In using the apparatus put the desired quantity of charcoal into the fire-pan U, put the apparatus out in the open air with the draft-holes P and Q open, or the entire cover may be opened for a few minutes till the gas or smoke is passed away, then close the cover, (if opened,) regulate the draft-holes P Q according to the heat wanted, and the apparatus is ready for use and will keep ones feet warm for about live hours, when fresh coals may be added. If a person riding in abuggy or wagon throws a blanket over his body and feet, the hot air from the foot-heater will warm his whole body.

It is obvious that not only charcoal but also coke and any other suitable fuel or source of heat may be used.

From the above description it will be seen that I provide a simple but effective and convenient foot-warmer which may be used a whole day for the small expense of ve to ten cents worth in charcoal or coke. It has no lamp to be exploded or overturned and no glass to break, as in some of the many imperfect and inconvenient foot-warmers heretofore made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a foot-warmer, the combination of the wooden case A, having the skeleton cover C, provided at its under side with the metallic register L, O; a metallic heating-pan suspended within the case A, and adapted to hold the source of heat; a secondary pan interposed between the woodwork and the heating-pan and having its edges extended above the edges of the latter,an air-space being thus formed between the two pans and between the outer pan and the woodwork, said case A, being also lined inside with asbestos or similar ireproof material, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a foot-warmer, the combination with the wooden case A, of the hooks Y, projecting from the inside of its walls, of the pan IV, suspended on said hooks, the heating-pan U, having the hooks V, suspending it from holes in the upper edges of the pan IV, and within the latter, and a cover provided with adjustable air-holes, covering the top of the case, substantially as set forth.

3. In a foot-warmer, the combination with the wooden case A, of the hooks Y, projecting from the inside of its walls, of the pan lV, suspended on said hooks, the heating-pan U, having the hooks V, suspendingit from holes in the upper edges of the pan \V, and within the latter, said pans being wider near the top than at the bottom.

1t. In a foot-warmer, the combination with the wooden ease A, and the lire-pan U, suspended therein, of the cover C, being formed of the end bars II, and side bars I, of even thickness, and the interior foot-supporting bars K, extending only partly down between the side bars, the adj ustable metallic register secured to the lower side of the side and end bars of the cover with an asbestic or other fireproof strip interposed between the metallic and the wooden parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.IOI'IN I. BERCHEM.

Witnesses:

A. M. CARLSEN, C. S. SNOW. 

